Clouds

Clouds are one of the most visible atmospheric phenomena. Clouds form when rising air cools to what is known as the dew point, where it can no longer hold its water vapor. The vapor then condenses around particles of dust forming tiny droplets which combine together, lifting into the air as a result of warm or cold fronts, convection (when air is heated at low levels through contact with the sun-warmed ground, creating rising bubbles of air), or by encountering obstacles, such as hills and mountains.

Clouds are classified according to their appearance and the height at which they form. In 1803, English naturalist Luke Howard developed a system for classifying clouds that included three main categories: cumulus, cirrus, and stratus. Cumulus clouds are puffy in shape and can reach far into the sky, but typically form at lower levels. They are created when water vapor condenses in strong, upward air currents. Cirrus clouds are thin, wispy formations that form above 18,000 feet when water vapor creates ice crystals. They are thin because there is less water vapor at higher elevations. Stratus clouds are uniform, gray clouds that envelop the whole sky and, in some instances, can form when fog lifts off the ground.

There are also a number of cloud subcategories based on both stratus and cumulus clouds. Each type shares the general characteristics that make it a stratus or cumulus cloud formation, but have their own unique attributes. Cirrostratus clouds, for example, are so thin that one can see the sun and moon clearly when looking at them. Cumulonimbus clouds exhibit thunderstorms and cirrocumulus clouds are rows of small white puffs that exist at approximately 18,000 feet but do not give off any precipitation. Stratocumulus clouds possess elements of both stratus and cumulus clouds in that they can be lumpy and form at low levels like cumulus clouds, but maintain a dark gray color and do not give off precipitation.

Clouds play a very important role in maintaining the Earth?s energy budget and climate. Improving our understanding of clouds is therefore one of the key research priorities for scientists who study global climate changes. Low, thick clouds reflect the Sun's short-wave radiation back into space, having an overall cooling effect on the Earth, also known as an albedo effect. High, thin cirrus clouds absorb long-wave radiation, so they contribute to the Earth's warming by acting as a blanket holding in the heat absorbed by the Earth?s surface during sunlight hours. Understanding the factors that contribute to cloud formation is critical to developing projections of future climate changes.

Satellite coverage, which began in the 1960s, provides information about total cloud cover over the Earth, however it is challenging to estimate the amount of each cloud type from the digital satellite data and imagery. The lack of direct observational data makes it difficult to predict how the Earth?s cloud cover will change in response to a small change in temperature. Higher temperatures can lead to greater evaporation and increased concentration of water vapor in the air, leading to more cloud cover, which would have a cooling effect on global temperatures. But, because warmer air is able to support higher densities of water vapor before condensation takes place, it is possible that warmer temperatures can also lead to less cloud cover, which would further increase temperatures.

Whether clouds have a net cooling or a net warming effect on the Earth?s climate will depend on a number of factors, including total cloud cover, and cloud location, structure, and composition. Until recently, scientists were unsure of clouds primary effect on the Earth. However, measurements made by NASA's Earth Radiation Budget Experiment satellite indicate that clouds could likely have a small net cooling effect.

Clouds and FogUSA Today?s weather site offers basic descriptions of different types of clouds.

Cloud BoutiquePlymouth State College Weather Center provides this site that explains basic cloud formations, illustrated with cloud images.

Clouds Hundreds of photos of virtually every type of cloud formation are provided on this page.

Clouds, Radiation, and ForcingDifferent types of clouds have varying effects on the Earth?s energy budget (known as forcing or cloud albedo forcing). NASA?s Earth Observatory site offers several pages, including a basic reference page, on the forcing effects of high clouds, low clouds, and deep convective clouds, including the cumulonimbus clouds that cause thunderstorms.

NASA: S'COOLStudents can make basic weather observations in coordination with satellites passing over their location, and send them into a NASA database. Scientists and others can compare the results of both visual and satellite observations.

Chain Reaction: Weather: Meet Clouds by NameThis education site was developed by the Arizona State University Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Affairs. An extremely useful link is to the Weather Q&A in which Randy Cerveny, a professor of geography at ASU and an expert in climatology, answers questions such as, "Why do clouds stick together?" and "Why aren't clouds all one shape?"